Scarifier

ABSTRACT

A scarifier implement ( 1 ) for a hydraulic endless track vehicle, such as a Posi-track™ front loader ( 2 ). The implement ( 1 ) is attachable to a rear end of the loader ( 2 ). The implement ( 1 ) comprises a mount ( 3 ) for attaching the implement ( 1 ) to the loader ( 2 ), a body ( 4 ) hinged to the mount ( 3 ) and having a holder ( 20 ) for holding teeth or tines ( 5 ), and a drive assembly ( 6 ) extending between the loader ( 2 ) and the holder ( 20 ), for raising and lowering the teeth or tines ( 5 ) relative to the mount ( 3 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a scarifier. A preferred aspect of the invention concerns a scarifier implement for a vehicle such as an earth moving machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Scarifiers for earth moving machines are known and are used, inter alia, to till, loosen or rip through ground surfaces. Typically, scarifiers are in the form of teeth or tines that extend from a bucket of a front end loader.

Disadvantages with such scarifiers include that their presence may interfere with the normal operation of the bucket of the loader, that additional stress may be placed on a front end of the loader, and that damage may be caused to the bucket or hydraulic arm of the loader.

An object of the present invention is to provide a scarifier that minimises or overcomes at least one of the disadvantages referred to above, or to provide the public with a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scarifier implement for a vehicle, said implement comprising:

a mount for attaching the implement to a vehicle;

a body hinged to the mount and having a holder for holding at least one tooth or tine; and

a drive assembly extending between the vehicle and the body, for raising and lowering the tooth or tine relative to the mount.

The mount can be of any suitable size, shape and construction and can be made of any suitable material or materials. The mount can be used to temporarily or permanently attach the implement to the vehicle. The mount can be of the quick coupling type whereby the implement can be quickly coupled to, or quickly detached from, the vehicle.

The mount can be attached to any suitable region of the vehicle. Preferably, the mount is attachable to an underside of the vehicle, such as to a frame, undercarriage, torsion bar mount or counterweight of the vehicle. Preferably, the mount comprises a pair of plates spaced apart from one another and a hinge pin extending between the plates, and the plates are fastened to the frame or the undercarriage of the vehicle.

The body can be of any suitable size, shape and construction and can be made of any suitable material or materials. The body can be made of box steel. Preferably, the body comprises a frame extending between the mount and the holder. The frame can have two or more parallel extending arms, each of which can have a bush connected to the hinge pin and an opposing end connected to the holder. Preferably, each of the arms is slightly V-shaped when viewed in side elevation, so as to provide room for the arms to manoeuvre between the vehicle frame or undercarriage and the ground surface.

If desired, the frame can further comprise braces and/or reinforcing plates for bracing and reinforcing the arms. For instance, the frame can have one or more crosspieces (cross-braces) extending between the arms. Gussets/corner braces can extend between the arms and the crosspieces. Preferably, the arms and crosspieces are of tubular construction.

If desired, the holder can have reinforcing plates or other reinforcement.

The holder can hold one or more teeth or tines in any suitable way. Preferably, the tooth or tine can be detached from the holder such that it can be replaced if worn or damaged. The implement preferably includes more than one tooth or tine for engaging the ground surface. Preferably, the implement has four teeth or tines. The teeth or tines can be of any suitable size, shape and construction, and can be made of any suitable material or materials. The holder can be tubular, it can be connected to each of the arms and can extend parallel with the hinge pin. Preferably, teeth or tines extend through openings that are spaced along a length of the holder. Each tooth or tine can have a shank extending vertically through a said opening, and a lower working end can extend from the shank. Preferably, the working end extends downwardly and towards the vehicle. Although the tubular holder is preferably rectangular when viewed in transverse cross-section, the tubular holder can be of any suitable cross-section. Each tooth or tine can be retained by the tubular holder in any suitable way. The shank of each tooth or tine can have a shoulder adjacent an upper or lower surface of the tubular holder, and a locking pin can be extended through the shank adjacent an opposing upper or lower surface of the tubular holder. Preferably, the shank of each tooth or tine has a shoulder adjacent the upper and lower surfaces of the tubular holder, and a locking wedge is extendable through the opening alongside the shank such that the shoulders are moved to bear against the upper and lower surfaces.

Any suitable electric, hydraulic or pneumatic drive assembly can be used. Preferably, the drive assembly comprises a hydraulic cylinder mounted to the vehicle and to the body. More preferably, a housing of the hydraulic cylinder is mounted to the vehicle above the holder and a piston of the hydraulic cylinder is mounted to the holder. Preferably, the hydraulic cylinder is actuated by a hydraulic system of the vehicle.

Preferably, the drive assembly includes a bracket for mounting the housing of the hydraulic cylinder to an end wall of the vehicle. The bracket can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The housing can be mounted to the bracket in any suitable way. Preferably, the housing pivots relative to the bracket as the piston extends and retracts relative to the housing.

Any suitable controller can be used to operate the hydraulic cylinder. Typically, a controller would be located within a cabin of the vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scarifier comprising a vehicle and the scarifier implement as described in respect of the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably, the vehicle is a hydraulic machine having an endless track, such as the machine sold under the trade mark Posi-track by ASV Inc.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of part of a scarifier implement, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the implement shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the implement shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of part of the implement shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the implement shown in FIG. 1 mounted to a hydraulic machine;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of part of a scarifier implement, according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of part of a scarifier implement, according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of part of a scarifier implement, according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a detailed top plan view of part of a scarifier implement, according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a scarifier implement, according to another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the figures, like reference numerals refer to like features.

FIG. 5 shows a scarifier implement 1 for a hydraulic endless track vehicle, such as a Posi-track™ front loader 2. The implement 1 is attachable to a rear end of the loader 2. The implement 1 comprises a mount 3, a body 4 hinged to the mount 3, tines 5 extending from the body 4, and a drive assembly 6.

As seen in FIGS. 1-3, the mount 3 includes a pair of plates 8 and a hinge pin 9 connected to each of the plates 8. A pair of positioning collars 10 is fixed to the pin 9. Fasteners, such as bolts, extend through apertures 11 in the plates 8 and fix the plates 8 to an undercarriage (counterweight) 15 of the loader 2, as shown in FIG. 5.

The body 4 comprises a tine holder 20 and a frame 21. The frame 21 extends between the hinge pin 9 and the holder 20. As seen in FIGS. 1-3, the frame 21 includes a pair of tubular arms 25, two tubular crosspieces 26 extending between the arms 25 and parallel with the hinge pin 9, and various corner braces/gussets 27. Each arm 25 is V-shaped when viewed in side elevation (see FIG. 3). A V-shaped strengthening plate 28 extends along a part of each arm 25. An end of each arm 25 has a bushing 30 through which extends the hinge pin 9. Each bushing 30 is trapped between a plate 8 and a positioning collar 10. The other end of each arm 25 is connected to the tine holder 20. The V-shaped arms 25 allow for a greater degree of movement of the frame 21 between the undercarriage 15 and the ground surface.

The tine holder 20 is a rectangular tube. Top 44 and bottom 45 walls of the holder 20 each have four slit openings 31. A lug 33 having an eyelet extends upwardly from the top wall 44.

As seen in FIG. 5, each tine 5 has a shank 40 and a working end 41 extending from the shank 40. Each working end 41 is pointed and extends downwardly and towards a front end of the loader 2 (like a claw). A shoulder 42 of each shank 40 is located adjacent the bottom wall 45 of the holder 20. Another shoulder 43 of each shank 40 is located adjacent the top wall 44 of the holder 20. A locking wedge 49 is extendable through each opening 31 alongside each shank 40 so that the shoulders 42, 43 are made to bear against the top 44 and bottom 45 walls of the holder 20, such that the tine is securely held in place.

The drive assembly 6 comprises a trunnion hydraulic cylinder 50 and a mounting bracket 51, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The bracket 51 has back plate 53, a top plate 54 extending from the back plate 53, a pair spaced side plates 55 extending between the plates 53 and 54, and a sleeve 56 extending from each side plate 55. Fasteners, such as bolts, extend through apertures 68 in the back plate 53 to connect the bracket 51 to a rear end wall 70 of the loader 2, as seen in FIG. 5. The trunnion hydraulic cylinder 50 has a housing 58, a piston 59 extending from within the housing 58, a collar 62 extending around the housing 58, and a pair of pins (not labelled) extending from the collar 62 within the sleeves 56. These pins enable the collar 62 to pivot relative to the sleeves 56 when extending or retracting the piston 59. A bolt 60 connects a clevis 72 of the piston 59 to the lug 33 of the holder 20. As seen in FIG. 5, hydraulic hoses 65 connect the hydraulic cylinder 50 to a hydraulic system of the loader 2. Controllers for the cylinder 52 are located within a cabin of the loader 2 and can extend or retract the piston 59 relative to the housing 58. FIG. 4 shows the piston 59 in the retracted position and FIG. 5 shows the piston 59 in the extended position.

In order to attach the implement 1 to a hydraulic vehicle such as a Posi-track™ front loader 2, fasteners are used to fix the plates 8 to the undercarriage (counterweight) 15 of the loader 2 and fasteners are used to fix the bracket 51 to the rear end wall 70 of the loader 2. Hydraulic hoses are coupled to the hydraulic cylinder 50 and to the hydraulic system of the loader 2, such that the hydraulic cylinder 50 can be operated from within the cabin of the loader 2.

In use, the working ends 41 of the tines 5 engage the ground surface when the piston 59 is extended as shown in FIG. 5. The working end 41 disengage the ground surface and move to a stowed position when the piston 59 is retracted as shown in FIG. 4.

Should it be necessary to replace a tine 5, the locking wedge 49 is removed from the holder 20 and the tine 5 is slid out from the holder 20. A replacement tine 5 is then inserted and locked into position using the locking wedge 49.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown part of a scarifier implement 90 according to another embodiment of the invention. The implement 90 is very similar to implement 1 in that it comprises a mount 91, a body 92 hinged to the mount 91, tines (not shown) extending from the body 92, and a drive assembly (not shown). Only the major differences of implement 90 as compared with implement 1 will be pointed out.

The mount 91 includes a pair of plates 94 and a bush spacer 95 extending from each plate 94.

The body 92 comprises a tine holder 95 and a frame 96. The frame 96 includes a pair of V-shaped tubular arms 97, two tubular crosspieces 98, 99 extending between the arms 97, and various corner braces/gussets 100, 101, 102, 103. Braces/gussets 100, 101 and 102 are plates whereas braces 103 are tubular. The body 92 further comprises V-shaped strengthening plates 105 that extend along a top surface and a bottom surface of each arm 97. Isoceles trapezoidal strengthening plates (not shown) extend along a bottom surface of the holder 95 adjacent each of the openings.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show different types of mounting plates 110, 111 of scarifier implements, according to other embodiments of the invention. A bush spacer 112, 113 extends from each plate 110, 111. A hinge pin of the mount is extendible through each bush 112, 113. Each plate 110, 111 is shaped for attachment to a specific type of vehicle.

FIG. 9 shows another type of mounting bracket 115 of a drive assembly of a scarifier implement, according to another embodiment of the invention. The bracket 115 is like bracket 51 except with regard to the shape of the top plate 116.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown a scarifier implement 120 according to another embodiment of the invention. The implement 120 includes a mount 121, a body 122 hinged to the mount 121, tines (not shown) extending from the body 122, and a drive assembly 123.

The mount 121 includes a pair of plates 125 from which bush spacers 129 extend and a hinge pin 126 connected to each of the plates 125. Fasteners, such as bolts, extend through apertures 127 in the plates 125 and fix the plates 125 to an undercarriage of a vehicle.

The body 122 comprises a tine holder 130 and a frame 131. The frame 131 includes a pair of tubular arms 132, two tubular crosspieces 133, 134 extending between the arms 132 and parallel with the hinge pin 126, and a pair of corner braces/gussets 140. Each arm 132 is V-shaped when viewed in side elevation. An end of each arm 132 has a bushing 142 through which extends the hinge pin 126.

The tine holder 130 is a rectangular tube, it has four slit openings 145 for tines (not shown) and a lug 146 having an eyelet.

The drive assembly 123 comprises a trunnion hydraulic cylinder 150 and a mounting bracket 152. The bracket 152 has back plate 153, a top plate 154 extending from the back plate 153, a pair spaced side plates 155 extending upwardly from plate 154, and a sleeve 156 extending from each side plate 155. Fasteners, such as bolts, extend through apertures (not labelled) in the back plate 153 to connect the bracket 152 to a rear end wall of the vehicle.

The trunnion hydraulic cylinder 150 has a housing 158, a piston 159 extending from within the housing 150, a collar 162 extending around the housing 158, and a pair of pins (not labelled) extending from the collar 162 within the sleeves 156. A bolt 170 connects a clevis 172 of the piston 159 to the lug 146 of the holder 130.

The scarifier implement of the present invention has the advantage that it does not interfere with the normal operation of a bucket or other implement at a front end of the loader. Moreover, the implement can be used to raise the rear end of the loader should the loader become bogged.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

The term “comprise” and variants of the term such as “comprises” or “comprising” are used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or stated integers but not to exclude any other integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required. 

1. A scarifier implement for a vehicle, said implement comprising: a mount for attaching the implement to a vehicle; a body hinged to the mount and having a holder for holding at least one tooth or tine; and a drive assembly extending between the vehicle and the body, for raising and lowering the tooth or tine relative to the mount.
 2. The scarifier implement of claim 1, wherein the mount is attachable to an underside of the vehicle.
 3. The scarifier implement of claim 2, wherein the mount comprises a pair of plates spaced apart from one another and a hinge pin extending between the plates, and the plates are fastened to the underside of the vehicle.
 4. The scarifier implement of claim 3, wherein the body further comprises a frame extending between the mount and the holder.
 5. The scarifier implement of claim 4, wherein the frame comprises two or more parallel extending arms, each of which has a bush connected to the hinge pin and an opposing end connected to the holder.
 6. The scarifier implement of claim 5, wherein each of the arms is V-shaped when viewed in side elevation, so as to provide room for the arms to manoeuvre between the vehicle and a ground surface.
 7. The scarifier implement of claim 5, wherein the holder is tubular, the holder is connected to each of the arms and extends parallel with the hinge pin.
 8. The scarifier implement of claim 7, wherein the holder has at least one opening and a said tooth or tine is extendible through the opening.
 9. The scarifier implement of claim 8, wherein the tooth or tine is detachable from the holder such that the tooth or tine can be replaced if worn or damaged.
 10. The scarifier implement of claim 8, wherein the tooth or tine has a shank extending vertically through the opening, and a lower working end extending downwardly from the shank towards the vehicle.
 11. The scarifier implement of claim 10, wherein the shank of the tooth or tine has a shoulder adjacent upper and lower surfaces of the holder, and a locking wedge is extendable through the opening alongside the shank such that the shoulders are moved to bear against the upper and lower surfaces.
 12. The scarifier implement of claim 8, wherein the holder has four said openings that are spaced along a length of the holder.
 13. The scarifier implement of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly comprises a hydraulic cylinder mounted to the vehicle and to the body.
 14. The scarifier implement of claim 13, wherein a housing of the hydraulic cylinder is mounted to the vehicle above the holder and a piston of the hydraulic cylinder is mounted to the holder.
 15. The scarifier implement of claim 14, wherein the drive assembly further comprises a bracket for mounting the housing of the hydraulic cylinder to an end wall of the vehicle, and the housing pivots relative to the bracket as the piston extends and retracts relative to the housing.
 16. A scarifier comprising the scarifier implement as defined in claim 1 mounted to a vehicle. 